April 3, 2018
The Oregon Health Authority will hold three meetings at the end of April to gather public input about the coordinated care model and the state’s Medicaid reforms.
Coordinated care organizations (CCOs) are the heart of the coordinated care model. CCOs were formed in Oregon in 2012 as part of the state’s plan to improve the quality of health care and limit the growth in health care spending.
“We need to hear from OHP members, taxpayers and the public about what’s working for them, and what needs more work so we can continue to transform the health system in Oregon,” said Patrick Allen, OHA’s Director. “We have more than five years of experience with the coordinated care model. We know that it has saved taxpayers money while improving care in some areas, but we also know there is a lot more work to do,” he added.
CCOs are local organizations governed by community members. They bring together physical, mental health, addiction medicine, and dental health providers to coordinate care for people on the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid). There are now 15 CCOs in Oregon coordinating health care for nearly 1 million OHP members throughout the state.
New CCO contracts will start in 2020, but the state is gathering public input now to help inform these contracts. There are three public meetings in April:
- Portland – April 20, 9-11 a.m., Mercy Corps Northwest, 43 SW Naito Parkway
- The Dalles – April 21, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wahtonka High School, 3601 West 10th Street
- Woodburn – April 28, 9 a.m. to noon, Legacy Health Wellspring Conference Center, 1475 Mt. Hood Ave.
Anyone is welcome, and advance registration is appreciated.
If you can’t attend a meeting, you can also provide feedback by emailing CCO2.0@state.or.us, or by taking the CCO 2.0 online survey, which closes April 15.
In the first five years of operation, the coordinated care model has saved taxpayers an estimated $2.2 billion, while also reducing unnecessary emergency department visits, and improving preventive care for children and adults.
But improvements are still needed in several areas including:
- Better access and treatment in mental health and addiction medicine
- Finding new ways to limit growth in health care spending
- Paying providers for improving quality rather than for each visit or test
- Providing better access to housing, transportation, education, and other health-related services
- Reducing language and cultural barriers that affect access to health care
Spanish language interpretation services will be at the meetings. Do you need interpretation in another language? Do you have a request for accommodation? Please contact Stephanie Jarem at stephanie.jarem@state.or.us at least two days before the meeting. Every effort will be made to provide services for requests made closer to the meeting.
For more information, visit the CCO 2.0 webpage.
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